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Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

The Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers defensive back Jermaine Whitehead chases Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers fans show their nerves late in the game againt the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers fans watch a flyover after the national anthem before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs the offense in the first half during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws a pass in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers running back Jamaal Williams (30) carries the ball late in game against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs off the field during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson (7) reacts as he misses a field goal in the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham (80) can't hold on to a pass on the goal line against triple coverage by the Minnesota Vikings in the second half at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) scrambles out of the pocket against the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews (52) rushes quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) and was called for roughing the passer on the play against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WIs. Jim Matthews/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) waves to the crowd after a 29-29 tie against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers defensive back Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) runs the ball back after an interception in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is pressured in the fourth qaurter by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby reacts after missing a late fourth quarter fieldgoal against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby reacts after missing a late fourth quarter fieldgoal against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander reacts to a missed field goal by Minnesota Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson in overtime during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers' Geronimo Allison catches a pass in front 0f Minnesota Vikings' Trae Waynes during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) scores a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) late in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Vikings scored a two point conversion to tie the game. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) celebrates scoring a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) late in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Vikings scored a two point conversion to tie the game. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) scores a two-point conversion to tie the game late in the fourth quarter aginst the Green Bay Packers during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates scoring a two-point conversion to tie the game late in the fourth quarter with running back Dalvin Cook (33) against the Green Bay Packers during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy leaves the field after a 29-29 tie against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks off the field during the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks off the field after a tie against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Green Bay, Wis. Adam Wesley/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings' Adam Thielen scores a late fourth quarter touchdown during against the defense of Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander and Kentrell Brice during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings' Adam Thielen scores a late fourth quarter touchdown during against the Green Bay Packersduring their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) pulls down a touchdown reception against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) dives into the end zone for a touchdown reception against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) hands off to running back Jamaal Williams (30) in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is flushed out of the pocket in the third quarter againt the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) misses a field goal late in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) reacts after missing a field goal late in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game went into overtime. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings’ Stefon Diggs hauls in a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter with Green Bay Packers cornerback Davon House in pursuit during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings' Stefon Diggs on the recieving end of a catch and run tuchdown inthe fourth quarter against Green Bay Packers' Davon House during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings' Stefon Diggs on the recieving end of a catch and run tuchdown inthe fourth quarter against Green Bay Packers' Davon House during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham (80) breaks away on a long reception against Minnesota Vikings defensive back Andrew Sendejo (34) and cornerback Mackensie Alexander (20) in the third quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers' Jamaal Williams catches a pass in the flats in front of the defense of Minnesota Vikings' Harrison Smith during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Minnesota Vikings' Laquon Treadwell cross the goal line in the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams crosses the goal line in the first half against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham (80) can't make a catch against Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Gedeon (42) in the second quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham (80) can't make a catch against Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Gedeon (42) in the second quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (23) reacts to a missed field goal attempt by the Minnesota Vikings late in the second quarter during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) scores a touchdown in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates a touchdown with a Lambeau Leap in the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings during their football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers cornerback Josh Jackson (37) recovers a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WIs. Jim Matthews/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback DeShone Kizer (9) warms up on the field before the game against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, September 16, 2018 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WIs. Jim Matthews/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Neighbors Jake Imig and Lily Sota read a book together while helping to park cars on Wildwood Ln. before the Green Bay Packers host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

David "Sir Gunnar" Gunderson of Minneapolis is fired up before the Green Bay Packers play against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is pressured in the fourth qaurter by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen during their football game on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The game ended in a 29 to 29 tie.(Photo: Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wis)

GREEN BAY - The minute Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy approved the decision to play quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, all the caveats that come with playing hurt flew up into the beautiful blue sky above Lambeau Field.

As soon as McCarthy, the medical staff and Rodgers himself decided the Packers had a better chance to beat the Vikings with him than without him, it didn’t matter whether he was 70 percent, 80 percent or 99 percent.

All understood that it was his game to win, just like it always is.

Excusing Rodgers for fumbling a keeper in overtime because his knee was sore would be like excusing a delivery truck from making its rounds because the bumper had a dent in it. Those kinds of afflictions are known to occur when you work in a high-collision arena and they can be mitigated.

Just as the knee was not the reason he dropped the ball on a play in which he eschewed the handoff in favor of running around end, it was not responsible for him taking a sack on the following play that made a game-winning field goal try impractical.

As great as Rodgers was a week ago in leading the Packers to a 21-point second-half rally with the same bum knee, his effort fell short when the game was on the line in a 29-29 tie with the Vikings.

“I’m disappointed about those last two plays,” Rodgers said. “We fought hard, we had some plays go our way; some plays didn’t.”

According to Rodgers, there was never any doubt he was going to play despite not practicing Wednesday and Thursday and spending most of Friday rehabbing an injury that he refuses to describe with any more detail than “a sprained knee.”

On Saturday, Rodgers took almost all of the snaps in the non-contact workout the team holds in the morning, mostly to show to McCarthy and the medical staff that he could move around with an offensive lineman-style brace on his left knee.

“(We) really just evaluated him today when he came in,” McCarthy said after the game. “So, he’d been working with the brace and the other components and getting ready to play throughout the week and as you can see, he went out and played a heckuva football game under those circumstances. That was the process.”

From the very start, Rodgers looked far more mobile than anyone expected, even taking off on a third-down scramble up the middle in which he dove head first for the first down. Though he was forced to take all his snaps from the shotgun or pistol formations, he was able to slide around in the pocket and buy himself time against arguably the best defense in the NFL.

On the first series, the Vikings sacked him and caused a punt and on the second one, the running game carried a big part of the load. On the final two plays, however, he hit receiver Davante Adams for a 13-yard gain and a 9-yard touchdown pass that gave the Packers a 14-7 lead.

The rest of the half was a struggle as the Vikings threw various pressures and disguised coverages at Rodgers, twice forcing the Packers to punt from within their own 20-yard line. Not even the late second-quarter scoring drive led anyone to believe the offense was nearing a breakout.

The longest gain of the five-play, 43-yard drive was a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty.

“You know I think the offense, we’ve got some things going, we got Jimmy (Graham) involved a little bit better,” Rodgers said. “But we didn’t catch the ball as well as we did last week. I didn’t throw it as well as I did last week in the second half.

“I’ve said to you guys (reporters) we’re a work in progress and I thought today we’d take a bigger step.”

The biggest problem in the second half was that Rodgers couldn’t finish off drives. He completed 30 of 42 passes for 281 yards and a touchdown, but kicker Mason Crosby kicked five field goals, and a sixth attempt, from 52 yards, went wide left at the end of regulation.

The best chance to put the game away came with 2 minutes, 4 seconds to go in regulation. The defense had just come up with an interception and the offense needed to go just 13 yards to make it a two-score game and practically ensure victory.

But to show how much confidence McCarthy had in Rodgers, rather than call a running play to keep the clock moving and force the Vikings to burn one of their two remaining timeouts, he called a roll out for Rodgers on second and 10. Rodgers got outside easily but he tried to fit the ball between two defenders to Davante Adams.

The ball got there, but in the process of Adams falling into the end zone, the ball got jarred loose. The Packers thought it was a touchdown and were waiting for instant replay to review it, but the call never came.

They waited so long, they received a delay of game penalty.

They got the ball back with 31 seconds to go and Rodgers got them to the Minnesota 34 with a 27-yard completion to Graham and a 3-yard completion to Adams. But Crosby missed and the game went to overtime.

“I had a chance to Davante at the end of the second last drive there of regulation to put the game away, two scores, didn’t get it,” Rodgers said. “And then we put something together there in the last 31 seconds to give ourselves (a chance to win).

“So disappointing because we had a lot of chances to win that game.”

The possession in overtime will cause Rodgers a sleepless night.

On second and 1 at the Minnesota 37, the play called for him to hand off to running back Jamaal Williams to the left. If he saw an opening to the right, he could pull it back and keep it.

He chose the latter and when he finished pulling the ball out of Williams’ gut, it slipped out of his hands. He jumped on it on the 40-yard line.

“Jamaal didn’t know I was pulling it,” Rodgers said. “He was trying to grab for it a little bit. But if I’d just been a little stronger pulling it, both the end and (safety) Harrison (Smith) were flying over the top.

“It’s second and a couple, I’m definitely getting a first down and we’re inside 50-yard field goal range.”

On the following play the Vikings blitzed cornerback MacKenzie Alexander off the left side. Rodgers had a play called to the left in which he could dump it off to receiver Randall Cobb and let him fight for a first down.

He pulled off of Cobb and tried to go for more. Alexander sacked him.

“The third-down play, probably should have just stayed with it to the left. They had a good disguise on the delay, but I should have stayed with it to the left, hit Randall. Who knows if he gets a first down or not, but either way we had a more manageable field goal there.”

Rodgers and the Packers avoided their first loss when Vikings kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 35-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Rodgers was admittedly very sore after the game and didn’t know what his practice schedule would be like during the upcoming week, but he said he intended to play at Washington.